Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

Module Identifier
FM36720
Module Title
Media Law and Regulation
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Reading List

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Case Study  2000 Words  50%
Semester Assessment A written critical reflection on a seminar assignment  2000 Words  50%
Supplementary Assessment A written critical reflection on a seminar assignment  2000 Words  50%
Supplementary Assessment Case Study  2000 Words  50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Demonstrate, through written assignments, a critical understanding of the ways in which the media in the UK are regulated

Be able to apply theoretical understanding of media law and regulations to real life case studies

Be able to write coherent assignments drawing on appropriate scholarly work

Brief description

This module will equip students with an understanding of key aspects of laws and regulations relating to media and film. In addition to a study of the principles of media regulation and an exploration of the main regulatory bodies and mechanisms, the module will consider wider questions around regulation of media content and ownership. Students will also gain an understanding of some of the key issues around rights, censorship, and use of archival footage in film and media production.

Aims

The aim of this module is to ensure that Media and Communication Studies students have a sound grasp of the laws and regulatory mechanisms that shape and frame media content and media organisations.

Content

Lectures and seminars will cover the following topics:

Why regulate the media?
Regulating the press
Regulating the broadcast media: the role of OFCOM
Regulating social media: an impossible task?
Regulation and the State
Copyright
Archival footage rights
Censorship
Film classification and regulation

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Not developed
Communication Effective communications skills - oral, written and visual, will be developed throughout the module.
Improving own Learning and Performance Formative feedback will be provided throughout the module which will help students to improve their own learning and performance.
Information Technology Not developed in this module beyond use of Blackboard
Personal Development and Career planning The module articulates production legal work, it establishes on a basic level the professional procedures involved at all levels of production.
Problem solving Media regulation is a continuous process of problem solving.
Research skills Students undertake research as part of the seminar programme and will be assessed on their ability to identify, locate, evaluate and effectively use their knowledge to apply to the issues that arise.
Subject Specific Skills Legal and regulatory skills will be developed throughout the module.
Team work Seminar work will be divided into groups to resolve production issues based on ‘real life’ incidents. These groups will be required to work effectively as a team to deliver the group based exercises.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6